Pumping mechanism



Dec. 25, 1934. H. B. cocHRANEfE-r A1.

PUMPING MEGHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed AJune l, 1952 INVENIjoRs.

HAROLD B. Cocf/va/vf.

UL F/cn .SPR/mwen.

ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1934.

Filed June l, 1932 H. B. COCHRANE ET AL y PUMPING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS i@ mda ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 25, 1934 l l y Y 1,985,283 v PUMPING MECHANISMV u Harold B. Cochrane *and Ulrich Sprinchorn, Jamestown, N. Y., assig'nors ofone-third to A George B. Etta/Jamestown', N. Yy

Application Junei, 1932, serial No. '614,686

l 14 claims. c1. 10s-5) u Y This invention relates to `a mechanism for i Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view,'showing raising or elevating liquids. The invention is the control member in its raised position.

herein illustrat'edas applied to the raising of Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing water'in a relatively deep well, but it maybe used 'the control member in its lower position.

'UNITEDSTATES PMENIT! OI-fI-#ICEv r, `in other instances .wherethe body of liquid and 'Fig 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. I' 5 the pointof delivery of the liquid are at different Fig. 5 is asection on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. levels, that is, where the vertical distance be- Fig. 6 is asection on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

tween such levels is greater than the highest Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View of the lower end of height of a column of the liquid that the presthe riser, with parts broken away.

m sure of the atmosphere will sustain. Figs. 8 and 9 are views substantially-similar to l0 In practice, inconnection with the raising of Figs; 2 and 3, respectively, but showing a different water, it hasbeen-generally recognized that sucembodiment of the invention. tion pumps may be used where the surface of Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10'100f Fig. 9; the water inthe well below the pump piston, Fig. 11 is a section on theline. 11-11 of Fig. 8'.'

15 measured vertically, doesnot exceed approxi- `Fig. 12 vis a section on'the line12-12 'of Fig. 9. l5

mately Vtwenty-five feet: Where the well is of In the drawings, 1 indicates a well and 2'indigreater. depth,: equipment known as deep well cates the body of Water therein. 3 indicates a apparatus must be used,'such equipment usually suction.' pump, preferably .power driven. The including a working barrel and a power head, and pump 3 may be of any desired construction Iand ro increasing materially the cost of installation and provided with single or double acting cylinders, 20 up-keep; also, the power headmust be mounted one vbeing indicated at 4 and provided with avac` directly over the well casing. f uum chamber or suction' intake 5, in'which'asuc- We have provided mechanism which, in contion effect is constantly maintained bythe pump nection with a suction pump such as .ordinarily solong as it is operated. The pistons are suitably 52.5, employed for raising waterk from shallow wells, operated by means ofeccentrics on the shaft 6, r that is, where' thesurface of the water is less carrying a pulley 7, the latter being belted toa than 25 feet below thesuction pump cylinder, is pulley 8, which is drivenbythe motor 9. The capable of raising water from depthsheretofore pump 3 rests on a base 10 which'may be at any requiring deepwell apparatus of the above type desired location; directlyv over ror remote from the so or other forms of construction, thereby providing well opening, as desired. The arrangement here- 30 for a simpler and cheaper installation. in shown kis such that thesurface ofthe water`2 One `object of our invention is to provide an is more than 25 feet butless than250 feet below improved mechanism intermediate the well and the pump pistons.. When thewellis at this depth, a pump of the suction type vcapable of raising or we provide whatmay be termed a'single stage 35 pumping liquid,` for example, water, from great raising mechanism, indicatedas an entiretyat 11; 35 depths. 'f vwhere the distance 'is more than 50 "feet butless Another object of the invention is to provide in thanf feet, a second raisin'gmechanism 11 would theyriser leading from afwell, mechanism cobefrequiredponesuch'mechanism beingrrequired operable withthe suction effect of asuction pump for approximately eachtwenty-five of depth. ino to raise water from relatively great depths. 1 12 indicates amain riser leading from lai point 140 A further'object of the invention is to combine below the surface of the water 2 upwardly into a with a suction pump, improved means for elecasing 13 serving'as a lilling and-emptying reservating water or other liquids. Voir and forming part of theA liquid raising mecha- 1 A stillfurther object of the invention is to pronisrn ll. The lower end ofthe riser 12 is provided i5 vide an improved liquid 'raising mechanism of with afoot-walve 12a, preferably comprising -a ,45 simple constructionvand capable of being readily plate pivotedwithin the riser to swing upwardly and GCOIlOmCally installed (see dotted lines in Fig. k7) and held against move- Other objects of the invention will be apparent ment` downwardly by a shoulder 12b'. rIfhe purpose to those skilled in the art to whichkour invention of the'foot-valve 12a,r is-tov hold or'support water 5o relates from the vfollowing description `taken in drawn into the riser 12from flowing back into 50 connection with the accompanying drawings,l the well l, when the suction effect in the riser I12 wherein Y n or other parts connectedthereto, irs-releaseduor Fig. l is an elevation of an apparatus, 'embodybroken, as laterl set forth. A151` indicates aysupplef ing our invention, such apparatus being shown mental riserleading from a point within and adv 5 `mounted'orinstalled in a well, y jacent the` lower portion ofthe casing-13 to Ythe 55 intake 5. The casing 13 is preferably of cylindrical shape and consists of a sheet metal side wall provided with lower and upper heads 15, 16, respectively. The heads 15, 16, are preferably threaded into the ends of the casing 13 and form a closed, substantially sealed chamber for reasons which will later appear. The upper end of the riser 12 is threaded into an opening formed in the head 15. 4The riser 14 is preferably of `sectional construction to facilitate assembly, the section within the casing being threaded at its end portion through an opening formed in the head 16 and connected by a union or coupling-17 to the other section of the riser 14.

18 indicates a conduit leading through the cas-- controlling the flow of air through the conduit 18` into the casing 13 and flow of air or water through conduit 18 and branch 18a from the casing 13 into theriser 14.. as later set forth. Theconduit 18, branch` 18a and valve 19 preferably comprise the following parts: 20 indicates a pipe or tube eX- tending through an. opening formed inthe casing head 16 and provided on its outer end with a collar 21 preferably of hexagon shape to take a tool. The inner end of thetube is provided withscrew threads and kthreaded into the casing 22 for the valve 19. The tube 20 is of such length that when it isscrewed into the valve casing 22, the latter and collar are clamped against the opposite faces of the head 16 to seal the opening therethrough. When desired'. gaskets (not shown) may be positioned between the collar 21 and valve casing and thehead. v'The pipe or tube 20 and the passage throughr` the valve casing 22 constitutes the conduit 18.` The valve casing 2D is provided with a hollow lateral portion 24 threaded into an opening'23formed'in the riser 14 within the casing 13, the passage through such lateral portion 24 constitutingthebranch conduit 18a leading from the conduit lftothe riser 14. The valve element 25 for'thevalve l9.is formed with three connected passages, so that in one position of they valve element, asfshown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 5,. the conduit 18 is closedfrom the exterior but connected bybranch 18a .to .the riser 14, so that air or Water-may'iiowfrom the casing 13 into the riser 14 and inthe other position of the valve element, as shownin. full lines in Fig. 3 and dotted lines in Fig..5the.branch 18a isclosed and the conduit 18 is open `to provide anv inlet for air from the exterior of the casing. 13 thereintdfor a purpose later to appear. l

Y 26 indicates a member for controlling the operation of thevalve 19. In the form of construction in Figs.. 1 to 6, inclusive, the member 26 consists of a receptacle, open at itsupper end to receive the lower end of the riser 14,` and. slidable vertically in the casingv 13. The receptacle 26. is preferably guided in its up and down movements and connected to the valve element 25 `by linkage indicated as an entirety-at 27. The guide means for the receptacle 26 may comprise a plurality of arms v28-suitably fixed tothe bottom of the receptacle and extending radially relative to the side wall thereof (see Figs. 2, 3 and 6); also, these arms 28 may be bent downwardly, as shown at 28a, forming stops tor limit the downward movement of the receptacle 26 at a point spaced from the head 15. The linkage 27 consists of the following: 29indicates a lever fixed to the valve element 25. 30 indicates arod pivotally and slidably connectedat its upper end to they lever 29 and operatively connected to the receptacle 26, so that the rise and fall of the latter will actuate the lever 29 to move the valve element from one position to its other position in either direction. Due to the fact that the distance of travel of the receptacle 26 is greater than the swinging movement of the lever 29, the operative connection between the rod 30 and the receptacle 26 permits the latter tov move relative yto the rod 30 before operating it. To provide for this operation, the receptacle 26 carries on one side wall a vertical strip 31 (the strip being preferably riveted to the side wall) having inturned end portions 32, 32a, in which are formed aligned openings to slidably receive the rod. 30 and guide it during relative movement between the rod andthe receptacle. The rod 30 is provided with laterally extending pins or tappets 33, 33a, above and below the guide portions 32, 32a, respectively and spaced with respect to each other so that the receptacle may move in either direction the required amount in excess of that necessary to swing the lever 29. In the upward movement of .the receptacle, the guide portion 32 engages the pin 33 and'through it moves the rod 30 upwardly, such movement being limited by the engagement ofthe rod 30 with the heady 16 (see Fig. 2) in the downward movement of the receptacle, the guide portion 32a engages the pin 33a and through it moves the rod 30 downwardly, such movement being limited by the engagement of the stops 28a with the head 15 (see Fig. 3).

vOperation.: When o-ur mechanism is first irlstalled,.it is primed by first closing theconduit 18 and starting the pump 3 to create sufficient vacuum in the system to cause the water to rise and iill the riser 12 and casing 13 up to approximately the level shown in Fig. 2. When the rising water enters the casing v13 as just stated, the receptacle 26 is raised thereby to its uppermost position and the valve 19 closes the conduit 18 to the outside atmosphera, but connects it through the branch conduit 18a with the riser 14. 'I'he pump 3 may be continued in operation. If stopped it may be restarted. By reason of such operation, the remaining airin the system will be exhausted to create a. vacuum in the vcasing 13 and riser 14, the effect of which will beto raise water (due to pressure of the atmosphere on .the surface ofthe water 2) through the riser 12 into the casing 13 and cause it to overflow into and fill the receptacle 26. When the weight of the water in the rcceptacle26 exceeds that displaced by the latter, it will move downwardly to the position'shown in Fig. 3, `and through thelinkage 27 move the valve element 25 to the position shown in this view (also shown in dotted` lines in Fig. 5), whereupon air will be admitted to the casing 13 through conduit 18. The admitted air will break the vacuum in the casing and permit the suction effect of the cylinders 4, due to atmosphere pressure on the surface of the water in the casing 13, to raise the water in receptacle 26 and excess water in the casing 13, through the riser 14 to the intake 5 and cylinders 4 from which it is discharged into a reservoir or receiver (not shown) As the water in the receptacle 26is withdrawn, it gradually rises to its iirst 'position (Fig. 2) and operates the valve 25 to its initial position, thereby closing the conduit 18 to the outside atmosphere and sealing the casing 13. When the conduit 18'is opened to admit air into the Vcasing 13, the water then lling the riser 12 and casing 13 is held against gravitation into the well l by the foot-valve 12a.

As soon as the conduit 18 is closed and any free air remaining the casing 13 and riser 14 is exhausted therefrom, water will-again rise in the riser'f12 and: casing 13'and overflow. intothe receptacle 26 which will'. then g'ravitate downwardly andfoperate the Valve 19 to openthe conduit. `'I'hi's cycle ofoperation will continue so. long as 4the pump l3 is operated.

Therbranch conduit 18a provides for the suction effect of the cylinders 4 upon the surface of the'water when and after the latter. overows into the receptacle 26 `and closes off the lower end ofthe riser 14. Y 'y While the receptacle 26 gradually gravitates when being lled and gradually rises when being emptied, it will be noted that it does not operate the Valve lever 29 until it traverses the last'portion. of its movement in either direction. This manner of operation results fromthe provision between the receptacle. 26 and. lever 29 of a lostmotionconnection which has already been described.

Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, illustrate adifferent embodiment of our inventionin which the control member isv in the form of a float, indicated at 26. The float in cross section Acorresponds in shape to the casing 13 and its end walls support a tubular member 34 loosely -tting the riser 14 within the casing 13 to guide the viioat upwardly and downwardly therein, At one sideA of the tubular member 34, the end walls of the float 26 support a tubular member through which eX- tends'therod 30, the latter formingv one element of the operative'connectiony 27' between the float 26 andthe valve element ofthe valve 19'. .The krod30` is provided withf'laterally extending pins or tappets 33', 33a Withlone of' which the float engages when moving in either direction. The pins or tappets 33', 33a', are so spaced that the iloat 26 only engages therewith as it nears the end ofits movement in either direction.

By reasonof the fact that vin this embodiment of the invention, a float is used instead of a receptacle rthat is filled and emptied, the conduit 18'isclosed to the outside atmosphere butopen through thebranch conduit 18a when the lever 29 is moved downwardly (Fig. 8), whereas the branch conduit 18a is closed and the conduit 18 open to admit air to the casing v13 when the lever 29 "ism'oved to the position shown in Fig. 9.

i' liFig. 8 shows thep'osition of the iioat 26' Vwhen the casing 13 is substantially empty, with the conduit 18 Jclosed.V `If the pump 3 is started, air in the riser 14 and casing 13 will be exhausted through the branch conduit 18a to createa vac'- uum therein, whereupon water will rise from the well l through riser 12 'and casing 13. 'I'hewater rising in the casing 13 will elevate the float 26', which through its engagement with the pin 33 will lift the rod 30 and swing the -lever 29 to the position shown in Fig. 9. 'I'his operation opens 4theconduit 18 to admit air into the casing l13 above the water level therein,th ereby breaking'the suction effect and'permitting the cylinders 4 of the pump 3 toraise the water in the casing 13 through the rise 14, the waterV in the riser 12 being held therein by thefoot valve 12a alreadyreferred to. As the water is withdrawn from the casing 13,`the float 26 gravitatesdownwardly and by engagement with tappet 33d operatesrthe Valve 19' to its rstl position. vThe cycle :of operations will then be repeated and continue so long as. the pump 3 is continued in operation.

, The upward movement `of the lever29, rod 30 and iioat 26. is preferably limited by the engagement of the rod 30 with the head 16'. V'Ihe downward movement of these parts is preferably vlimited by the engagement of the lever 29 with an arm'36 carriedibythe valve 19. The inner end of thearm'36 terminates in a clip whereby it may be removably and adjustably connected to the valve 19.". `The `free end ofthe arm is provided with an extension 37 having an offset pory tion forming locking shoulders 38 one of which is engaged by the lever 29 in either position. As the arm 36 ,is formed of resilient material, the shoulders 38 form yieldable locks-to maintain-the lever in eitherposition against frictional engagement between the tube 35 and rod 30, but permits the lever 29 to. operate when the float 26 engages one of the tappets.

It will be notedl that in our forms of construction, but one pipe, conduit. or riser leads upwardlyfrom the body of water in the well and but 'one pipe, conduit or riser extends from the pump downwardly into the well 1. Also, that the raising mechanism 11 is connected to these risers, so that the entirev apparatusmay be lassembled and installed in an `easy manner.'v l

It will also be noted that in the levent the .well becomes flooded, that is, the level of the water 2 rises above the casing 13, the operation of the pump 3 and raising of water fromLthe Lwell is not affected, since under such conditions the control lreceptacle 26 in the first described embodiment will be in its lower position and the controlfloat 26 in the second described embodiment will' be in its uppermost position. Accordingly, the conduit 18 from the outside -to the inside of the casin'g 13 will be open, so that the suction eiect of the pump cylinders will cause the water in the well to flow through the conduit 18, into the casing 13 and from the latterthrough riser 14 until the-water level drops below the inlet to the conduit. Thereafter, the mechanism 1l will operate asl herein set forth.

In practice, thedistance from the water level in casing 13 when filled to its normal level tothe cylinders 4 should not exceed approximately 25 feet and the distance from the top of the receptacle 26 (or lower end of -riser` 14 in the Fig. 8 form of construction) to the'level of the water 2 in the well 1 should not exceed approximately 25 feet but this distance may in each case beincreased Where a high or 'relatively perfect vacuum` can be maintained in the system.

' To'those skilled in the art to which ourinventionfrelates, many changes in-construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggesty themselves without departingfrom the ispiritand scope thereof. Our disclosures and-the description herein are purely illustrative andare not intended to be in any end of that portion ofthe conduit extending up- Wardly from said casing, said receptacle Vbeing arranged to be elevated by the' rise of the liquid drawn into'said'casing and to be lowered'by the weight of the liquid overflowing thereinto, and operating connections'between said receptacle and said last' mentioned valve arranged to closesaid valve when said receptacle moves upwardlyand to open said valve when it moves downwardly. n

. 2..' In aliquid raising apparatus, the ycombination with a suction pump having an intake, of a liquid conduit connected to'said intake and leading downwardly, the lower end of said conduit being adapted to be disposed below the level of the body of the liquid' to be'raised, said conduit including a casing intermediate the ends thereof, a valve on thelower end portion of said conduit, an air inlet provided in the upper portion ofsaid casing, a valve in said inlet, a receptacle movably mounted in said casing and arranged to receive the lower end of that portion of the conduit extending upwardly from said casing, said receptacle being arranged to be elevated by the rise of the liquid drawn into said casing and to be lowered by the weight of the liquid overflowingthereinto, operating connections between said receptacle and said last mentioned valve arranged to close said valve when said receptacle moves upwardly and to open said valve when it moves downwardly, and means for limiting the movement of said receptacle, Y

3. In a liquid raising apparatus, the combination with a suction pump having an intake, of a liquid conduit connected to said intake and leading downwardly, the lower end of said conduit being adapted to be disposed below the level of abody of theliquid to be raised, said conduit including a casing intermediate the ends thereof, a valve on the lower end portion of said conduit, an air inlet providedin the upper portion of said'casing, and having connection with said conduit, a valve arranged in one positionto close said inlet and connect said casing-to saidconduit and in another position to `close said connection to said conduit and open said inlet, and means in said casing and controlled bythe flow of Awater into and out of said casing for operating said last mentioned valve. A. In a liquid raising apparatus, the combination with a suction pump having an intake, of a sectional riser having its upper section connected tol said intake and extending downwardly, the lower end of the lower section of the riser adapted to be disposedbelow the level of a body of liquid and provided with a -valve free to operate when the liquid flows into said riser section, a normally closed casing into which the adjoining endsof the riser sections extend, valve mechanism in ythe upper portionof said casing arranged to admit air thereinto or permit air flow from said casinginto said upper riserlsection, and means in said casing controlled by the flow of liquid'thereintoxfor actuating the valve of said valve rrliecl'ianism;,K v

5. In a liquid raising apparatus, the combination with a suction pump having an intake,V of a sectional riser having its upper section connected to said intake andextendingdownwardly, the lower 4end of the lower section of,the'riser adapted to be disposed below thelevelo'f la body of liquid and provided with a valve free to operate when the liquid. flows into said'riser section, a normally closed casing into which the adjoining ends of the riser sections extend, a valve mechanism for admitting air into said `'casing or permitting air to now from said casing into said upper riser section, and a float mechanism in said casing, actuated by the rise and fall fof liquid therein and operatively connected to said valve mechanism for controlling the operation thereof.

6A In a liquid raising apparatus, the combination with a suction pump having an intake, of a sectional suction and liquid conduit having its upper end connected to said intake and extending downwardly, said conduit comprising an upper section, a lower section andan intermediate section connected one to the other in series, thelower end of the lower section of the conduit being adapted to be disposed below the level of a body of liquid andvprovided with avalve free to operate when. the liquid flows into said section and said intermediate section consisting of a casing, a valve mechanism for admitting air vinto said casing or connecting said casing to Vsaid upper section, means for yieldingly holding the valve element of said valve inopened or closed position, anda member movable inI said casing and operativelyV connected Ato the valve element of said valve for operating it from one position to its otherpositio-n. f

'7. In a liquid raising apparatus, the combination with a suction pump having an intake, of a sectional riser having its upper section connected to4 said intake and extending downwardly, the lower end of the lower section'of the riser adapted torbe disposed below the level of a body of liquid and provided with a valve free to operate when the `liquid flows into said riser section, a closed casing connectedat its lower end to the upper end ofv said lower riser section, the upper riser section extending into said casing to a point near its bottom and open at its lower end, an air inlet leading into the upper portion of said casing, an airinlet leading from the upper portion of said casing` into the upper riser section, and means within said vcasing and controlled by the rise and fall of liquids therein for controlling the iiowV of air through said inlets.

8. In a liquid raising: apparatus, the tion with a suction pump having an intake, of a sectional riser having its upper section connected to said intake'fand' extending downwardly, the lower end of the lower section of the riser adapted to be disposed below the level ofla body of liquid and providedwith a valve free to operate when the liquid flows into said riser section, a normally closed casing into which the adjoining ends of the riser sections extend, and means for controlling the admission of air into said casingror romsaid casing into said upper riser section, said means including a member movable in said casing and arranged to be operated by the flow of the liquid into and'out of said casing.

9. In a system for raising liquids having a suction creating means, a sectional riser extending downwardly into the liquid to be raised and comprising a section connected to said suction creating means; a lower section and an intermediate casingin which the adjacent ends of said sections `open, which consists in continually operating saidl suction means-to maintain suction effect rin said riser, closing said casing and connecting it to said rst mentioned section to effect flow of the liquid through said lower riser section into said casing to substantially iill it and then disconnectingsaid casing from Vsaid rst mentioned section and admitting air to the surface of the liquid in said casing to induce a flow of the liquid therein upwardly through said upper riser section to the pressure of the atmosphere will sustain, a I

combina-- riser having its lower inlet end open and connected to the lower portion of said casing, a suction pump having. an'intake connected to the upper end of said last mentioned riser, an air inlet disposed in the upper portion of said casing, an airconnection from said casing to said last mentioned riser, and means in said casing and controlled by the rise and fall of liquid therein for controlling the supply of air into said casing or from said casing into said last mentioned riser.

11. In apparatus for raising liquid, the combination of a riser having its lower end extending into the body of liquid to be raised, a valve on the lower end portion of said riser arranged to permit the liquid to flow into said riser, a casing connected to the upper end of said riser arranged above the body of liquid a distance less than the height of a column of the liquid that the pressure of the atmosphere will sustain, a riser extending into said casing and havingl an open end terminating adjacent the bottom'of said casing, an air inlet disposed in the upper portion of said casing and having. a passage connected to said last mentioned riser, a valve in said inlet to control the flow of air into said casing or from said casing into said last men'- tioned riser, and a movable member in said casing operated by the rise and fall of the liquid therein and operatively connected to said last mentioned valve for operating it.

12. In apparatus for raising liquids in a well below the normal range, the combination with a well tube, of a single conduit eXtending'do-wn--v wardly into said tube to a point below the level of the body of liquid therein, said conduit comprising upper and lower sections and a reservoir intermediate said sections into which the upper section terminates an air inlet from the upper portion of said reservoir into said upper con-v section for applying suction to lift liquid into said reservoir, and means in said reservoir arranged to close said air connection and admit air at atmospheric pressure into said reservoir for diverting the suction effect of the pump upon the body of liquid to the liquid in said reservoir to lift the liquid therefrom.

13. In a liquid raising apparatus, the combination with a suction pump having an intake, of a combined suction and liquid conduit connected at its upper end to Said intake, said conduit comprising an upper section, a lower section.

and an intermediate section, yand means in said intermediate section and controlled by the rise of liquid therein to admit air at `atmospheric pressure therein or to connect the upper end of said section to said upper section, whereby the suction effect of said pump through said conduit is operable to rst raise liquid through said lower section to said intermediate section and to then raise the liquid in said intermediate section through said upper section.

14. In a liquid raising apparatus, the combination with a suction pump having an intake, of a combined suction and liquid conduit connected at its upper end to said intake, said conduit comprising an upper section, a lower section and an intermediate section, and means in said intermediate sectionv and controlled by the rise of liquid therein to admit air at atmospheric pressure therein or to connect the upper end of said section to said upper section, whereby the suction effect of said pump through said conduit is operable to rst raise liquid through said lower `section to said intermediate section and to then raise the liquid in said intermediate section through said upper section, said means comprising an air controlling valve and a float fory operating said valve. i

HAROLD B. COCHRANE. ULRICH SPRINCHORN. 

